Ford F-250: Safety Features
This rundown will outline the important safety components in your Ford F-250 or F-350 Super Duty.
This article applies to the Ford F-250, F-350 Super Duty (2005-2014).
Safety technology has come a long way in recent years, and today's F-250 or F-350 Super Duty trucks have some incredible technology. Here are some of the important safety components that make Ford trucks some of the best trucks on the market.
Component Breakdown
Airbags
Airbags have been around for quite a few years, but they seem to grow in numbers with each new model. Modern vehicles have air bags seemingly everywhere and for good reason. Airbags inflate in a fraction of a second when you get into a collision, protecting you from hitting hard surfaces that could make for a long hospital stay or a permanent rest. Instead of just having front airbags, newer trucks have side curtain airbags that can protect you from a side collision as well.
Child Safety
Ford hasn't forgotten about children when implementing safety features. In addition to the option of child locks on the rear doors, many trucks feature child seat anchors that provide additional support and safety. Newer models also feature passenger side air bags that automatically turn on and off if it detects a child-like weight in the passenger seat, eliminating the possibility that you might forget to manually turn the air bag off.
Rollover Ratings
Both two-wheel and four-wheel drive trucks tend to carry a higher risk of rollover because they sit higher in the air. Car manufacturers, including Ford, have paid more attention to these features in recent years. For example, a 2010 F-250 has a four star rollover rating. This is an excellent score and means there's some pretty strong steel protecting the truck from crumpling up in the event of a crash.
(Related Article: Crash Test and Safety Ratings - Ford-trucks.com)
Frame
The Super Duty's frame is made out of durable steel to provide maximum protection. With its caged shape, it features collapsible front horns that offer more protection by absorbing the crash energy. The frame is fully boxed for rigidity, while allowing flex.
Towing Safety
The Super Duty comes with a number of features that make towing easier and safer. Some of these features include roll stability control, trailer sway control, an electronic locking rear differential, integrated trailer brake controller, and electronic stability control. These features serve to keep your trailer from swaying while underway, and help you maintain control of the load at all times.
Pro Tip
It is important to follow scheduled maintenance procedures which are located in the owner's manual. One of the most important topic in regards to safety is tire pressure. Tires should be checked monthly, even if they are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. Tires should be rotated as directed in the owner's manual, and should be replaced every six years regardless of wear. Tires degrade over time, even if they are not used.
Related Discussion
- Super Duty Roll Over Safety - Ford-trucks.com
